Except where noted, Scripture quotations are from The Holy Bible, English Standard Version, copyright 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a division of Good News Publishers. Used by permission. All rights reserved. Verses marked nasb are taken from the New American Standard Bible, 1960, 1962, 1963, 1968, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1975, 1977, 1995 by The Lockman Foundation. Used by permission. (www.lockman.org) Verses marked niv are taken from The Holy Bible, New International Version NIV. Copyright 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved worldwide. Verses marked nkjv are taken from the New King James Version. Copyright 1982 by Thomas Nelson, Inc. Used by permission. All rights reserved. All emphasis in Scripture quotations has been added by the author. Cover by Bryce Williamson Interior images istockphoto / www.istockphoto.com THE BONDAGE BREAKER is a registered trademark of The Hawkins Children s LLC. Harvest House Publishers, Inc., is the exclusive licensee of the federally registered trademark THE BONDAGE BREAKER. THE BONDAGE BREAKER INTERACTIVE WORKBOOK Copyright 2011 by Neil T. Anderson Published by Harvest House Publishers Eugene, Oregon 97408 www.harvesthousepublishers.com ISBN 978-0-7369-7743-2 (pbk.) All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, digital, photocopy, recording, or any other except for brief quotations in printed reviews, without the prior permission of the publisher. Printed in the United States of America 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 / VP-SK / 10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Contents Introduction... 5 Part 1 The Gospel and the Believer s Identity in Christ 1. Creation in Conflict... 11 2. Identity in Christ... 15 3. Mental Strongholds... 19 4. The Battle for Our Minds... 23 5. Managing Our Emotional Life... 27 6. The Freedom of Forgiveness... 31 Part 2 The Believer s Position, Authority, and Protection in Christ 7. The Position of the Believer... 37 8. The Authority of the Believer... 41 9. The Protection of the Believer... 45 10. The Vulnerability of the Believer... 49 11. Setting Captives Free, Part One... 53 12. Setting Captives Free, Part Two... 55 Part 3 The Steps to Freedom in Christ 13. Preparation and Step 1: Counterfeit vs. Real... 59 14. Step 2: Deception vs. Truth... 65 15. Step 3: Bitterness vs. Forgiveness... 71 16. Step 4: Rebellion vs. Submission... 77 17. Step 5: Pride vs. Humility... 79 18. Step 6: Bondage vs. Freedom... 81 19. Step 7: Curses vs. Blessings... 87
Introduction Have you ever wondered why the church is so divided? Why marriages are failing? Why so many Christians continue to struggle in their faith even though they are forgiven and are new creations in Christ? I asked myself those questions many years ago when I was the pastor of a church. I believed that Christ is the answer and that truth sets people free, but I didn t see very many believers fully realize that freedom. I saw a lot of people come to Christ in those early years of ministry, but most continued to struggle with the same old issues. Where was the freedom that Christ promised? When I was extended a call to teach at Talbot School of Theology, I accepted with that burden. I offered an elective class on resolving personal and spiritual conflicts that grew numerically every year, and I started to learn how Christ sets captives free and heals our wounds. In the process I personally experienced several paradigm shifts. I discovered myself what it really meant to be a child of God and to be alive in Christ. I slowly discovered that every defeated Christian who came to me for help didn t know who he or she was in Christ. That is still true today. The next major shift in my thinking had to do with the way we help others find their identity and freedom in Christ. To accomplish that requires a holistic approach that takes into consideration the reality of the spiritual world. The apostle Paul wrote, The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons (1 Timothy 4:1 niv). That is presently happening all over the world. Many Christians are struggling with tempting, accusing, and blasphemous thoughts. When you are established as alive and free in Christ through genuine repentance and faith in God, you will discover that the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus (Philippians 4:7 niv). 5
6 The Bondage Breaker Interactive Workbook In the first six lessons I will share the whole gospel and explain the believer s identity in Christ. We will explore the battle for our minds and how we can have emotional freedom by forgiving others. After the first six lessons, you may choose to jump to lesson 13 and work through the Steps to Freedom in Christ. The Steps to Freedom provide a way for you to resolve personal and spiritual conflicts through genuine repentance and faith in God. They are means by which you personally connect with God, who is the only one who can set you free and heal your wounds from the past. The process will not embarrass you, and there is nothing to fear. The purpose is to set you free in Christ. The recommended format is to go through all 12 lessons and then the Steps to Freedom. Lessons 7 through 12 focus on the believer s position, authority, and protection in Christ. I will share ways in which we are vulnerable and demonstrate how we can help others find their freedom in Christ. Several exploratory studies have shown promising results regarding the effectiveness of the Steps to Freedom. Three studies were performed on participants who attended a conference similar to this video series. The first study involved 30 people, the second study involved 55 people, and the third study involved 21 people. The participants began by taking a questionnaire that assessed for levels of depression, anxiety, inner conflict, tormenting thoughts, and addictive behaviors. Then, as part of the conference, they were led through the Steps to Freedom. Three months later, they took the questionnaire again. The following table illustrates the percentage of improvement for each category. Study 1 Study 2 Study 3 Depression 64% 47% 52% Anxiety 58% 44% 47% Inner conflict 63% 51% 48% Tormenting thoughts 82% 58% 57% Addictive behavior 52% 43% 39% Research was also conducted in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and Tyler, Texas, by a ministerial team chaired by Dr. George Hurst, who previously directed the University of Texas Health Center at Tyler. This study was in cooperation with a doctoral student at Regent University under the supervision of Dr. Fernando Garzon. The data were combined in a manuscript that was accepted by the Southern Medical Journal for publication. Most people attending a video series like this one can work through the repentance process on their own using the Steps to Freedom. In our experience, about 15 percent can t because of
Introduction 7 difficulties they have experienced. A personal session was offered each of these participants with a trained encourager. They were given a pretest before a Steps to Freedom session and a posttest three months later. The following results show the percentage of improvement: Oklahoma City Tyler Depression 44% 52% Anxiety 45% 44% Fear 48% 49% Anger 36% 55% Tormenting thoughts 51% 27% Negative habits 48% 43% Sense of self-worth 52% 40% I hope this research encourages you to take this course seriously. Does God want all His children to be free in Christ? Yes! It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery (Galatians 5:1 nasb). The truth will set you free, and Jesus is the truth as well as the Wonderful Counselor. My prayer is that you will finish this course with a sense of peace and freedom that only Christ can bring. Dr. Neil T. Anderson
Part 1 The Gospel and the Believer s Identity in Christ
1 Creation in Conflict God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them. Genesis 1:27 Lesson Objective To understand the creation account, the Fall, and the full meaning of the gospel in order to have a clear perspective of the world in which we live and how we can overcome it. The Original Creation and the First Adam To understand the problems that we have, we need to go back to the beginning. The Lord God formed man of dust from the ground, and breathed into his nostrils the breath of life; and man became a living being (Genesis 2:7 nasb). Adam experienced two kinds of life, and we do too: Physical life (Greek: bios). Our soul/spirit is in union with our body. To die physically is to separate the soul/spirit from the body. Spiritual life (Greek: zoë ). Our soul/spirit is in union with God. To be spiritually dead is to be separated from God (Ephesians 2:1). Before the Fall, mankind enjoyed Significance (Genesis 1:28). Humanity had a divine purpose. Safety and security (Genesis 1:29-30). God provided for all of humanity s needs. Belonging (Genesis 2:18). Humanity had a sense of identity and belonging to God and each other. 11
12 The Bondage Breaker Interactive Workbook The Effects of the Fall (Genesis 3:8 4:9) You shall surely die (Genesis 2:17). When Eve was deceived and Adam deliberately chose to sin, they immediately died spiritually they were separated from God. (Physical death was another consequence, but that came later.) The essence of Adam s fall was the deliberate breaking of his intimate relationship with God. Sin can be understood only in terms of our relationship to God and His will. Sinful behavior is the result of fallen humanity attempting to find purpose and meaning in life independent of God. We simply can t meet our own needs without the life of Christ. As a result of the Fall, we are all born dead in our trespasses and sins. Sin entered the world through one man, and death through sin (Romans 5:12 niv). You were dead in the trespasses and sins in which you once walked, following the course of this world, following the prince of the power of the air, the spirit that is now at work in the sons of disobedience (Ephesians 2:1-2). The Fall affected humanity in several ways: 1. In our minds. The concept of knowing was no longer relational (see Ephesians 4:17-18). 2. In our emotions. Humanity experienced fear and anxiety (Genesis 3:10) shame and guilt depression and anger (Genesis 4:5-6) 3. In our wills. Humanity has the wonderful power to make choices, but since the Fall, people have become inundated with opportunities to make poor choices. 4. In our relationships. Humanity had a sense of rejection and a need for belonging. 5. In our guilt and shame. People need acceptance and affirmation. 6. In our weakness and helplessness. People need strength and self-control. To reestablish fallen humanity, Jesus came to show us how to live die for our sins and give us life destroy the works of the devil
Creation in Conflict 13 Discussion Questions 1. What is the difference between natural life and spiritual life? 2. What attributes did Adam and Eve have as a result of creation that turned into needs as a result of the Fall? 3. What did Adam and Eve lose in the Fall, and how does that affect us today? 4. The serpent said, Did God actually say, You shall not eat of any tree in the garden? (Genesis 3:1). What is wrong with the question, and what characteristic of God is the serpent questioning? 5. Eve said, You shall not eat of the fruit of the tree that is in the midst of the garden, neither shall you touch it, lest you die (verse 3). What did Eve add to God s command? 6. The serpent said, You will not surely die (verse 4). What characteristic of God is the serpent questioning? 7. Verse 6 reads, So when the woman saw that the tree was good for food, and that it was a delight to the eyes, and that the tree was to be desired to make one wise, she took of its fruit and ate. What correlation do you see between those channels of temptation and this New Testament verse? For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the boastful pride of life, is not from the Father, but is from the world (1 John 2:16 nasb). 8. Satan used those same three channels to tempt Jesus (Matthew 4:1-11). How does knowing that help us today? 9. What one thing caused the change in Adam and Eve s mental and emotional state in Genesis 3? What conclusions can you draw from that? 10. What three objectives must God accomplish in order to reestablish fallen humanity?
2 Identity in Christ The reason the Son of God appeared was to destroy the works of the devil. 1 John 3:8 Lesson Objective To understand the whole gospel in order to appreciate who we are and how God intends for us to live. What Jesus Came to Do Jesus came to die for our sins so we could go to heaven. That s true, but the gospel is much bigger than just that. The eternal life Jesus came to give us begins now! 1. Jesus showed us how a spiritually alive person can live and not sin (John 13:15; 1 Peter 2:21) that we might follow His example. How did Jesus live that way? By depending on the Father. Everything He spoke and did His entire life came from His Father. All temptation is an attempt to get us to live independently of God. In him was life, and the life was the light of men (John 1:4). I can do nothing on my own (John 5:30). I came not of my own accord, but he sent me (John 8:42). The words that I say to you I do not speak on my own authority, but the Father who dwells in me does his works (John 14:10). Now they know that everything you have given me comes from you (John 17:7 niv). 15
16 The Bondage Breaker Interactive Workbook 2. Jesus came to die for our sins and give us life. If you wanted to save a dead man, you would have to do two things: Cure the disease that caused him to die (Romans 6:23a). Give him life (Romans 6:23b). The apostle Paul said, For to me to live is Christ (Philippians 1:21). Spiritual life is recovered in Christ. For the Christian to be spiritually alive is to be in Christ or born again. 3. Jesus came to destroy the works of the devil (1 John 3:8). The apostle Paul summarizes these three aspects of the gospel in Colossians 2:13-15: And you, who were dead in your trespasses and the uncircumcision of your flesh, God made alive together with him, having forgiven us all our trespasses, by canceling the record of debt that stood against us with its legal demands. This he set aside, nailing it to the cross. He disarmed the rulers and authorities and put them to open shame, by triumphing over them in him. Who We Are in Christ A Christian is not simply a person who gets forgiveness, who gets to go to heaven, who gets the Holy Spirit, or who gets a new nature. Being a Christian is not just getting something; it is being someone. People cannot consistently behave in a way that is inconsistent with what they believe about themselves. Salvation is transformation. We are children of God the moment we receive Him (John 1:12). We are purified by the hope of knowing who we are in Christ (1 John 3:1-3). There are no cultural, social, religious, racial, or sexual barriers for those who are in Christ (Galatians 3:24-28; 4:6; Colossians 3:11). In Christ I Am Accepted I am God s child (John 1:12). I am Jesus chosen friend (John 15:15). I have been justified (forgiven) by faith and have peace with God (Romans 5:1). I am united with the Lord and one with Him in spirit (1 Corinthians 6:17). I have been bought with a price I belong to God (1 Corinthians 6:20). I am a member of Christ s body, a part of His family (1 Corinthians 12:27).
Identity in Christ 17 I am a saint, a holy one (Ephesians 1:1). I have been adopted as God s child (Ephesians 1:5). I have direct access to God through the Holy Spirit (Ephesians 2:18). I have been bought back (redeemed) and forgiven of all my sins (Colossians 1:14). I am complete in Christ (Colossians 2:10). In Christ I Am Secure I am free from condemnation (Romans 8:1-2). I am assured that all things work together for good (Romans 8:28). I am free from any condemning charges against me (Romans 8:31-34). I cannot be separated from the love of God (Romans 8:35-39). I have been established, anointed, and sealed by God (2 Corinthians 1:21-22). I am hidden with Christ in God (Colossians 3:3). I am sure God will finish the good work He has started in me (Philippians 1:6). I am a citizen of heaven (Philippians 3:20). I have not been given a spirit of fear, but of power, love, and a sound mind (2 Timothy 1:7). I can find grace and mercy in time of need (Hebrews 4:16). I am born of God, and the evil one cannot touch me (1 John 5:18). In Christ I Am Significant I am like salt and light for everyone around me (Matthew 5:13-16). I am connected to the true vine, joined to Christ, and able to produce much fruit (John 15:1-5). I have been chosen by Jesus to bear fruit (John 15:16). I am a personal witness of Christ s life within me (Acts 1:8). I am God s temple, where the Holy Spirit lives (1 Corinthians 3:16). I am at peace with God, and He has given me the work of making peace between Himself and other people. I am a minister of reconciliation (2 Corinthians 5:16-21). I am God s coworker (2 Corinthians 6:1). I am seated with Christ in the heavenlies (Ephesians 2:6). I am God s workmanship (Ephesians 2:10). I may approach God with freedom and confidence (Ephesians 3:12). I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13). All these verses are true about you if you have made the decision to trust in God and have received Him into your life. For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works so that no one may boast (Ephesians
18 The Bondage Breaker Interactive Workbook 2:8-9). If you have never made that decision, none of the statements in the lists above are true about you. If you have never received Christ, you can do so right now. God knows the thoughts and intentions of your heart, so all you have to do is put your trust in God alone. You can express your decision in a prayer like this one: Prayer Dear heavenly Father, thank You for sending Jesus to die on the cross for my sins. I acknowledge that I have sinned and that I cannot save myself. I believe that Jesus came to give me life, and by faith I now choose to receive You into my life as my Lord and Savior. By the power of Your indwelling presence, enable me to be the person You created me to be. I pray that You would grant me repentance leading to a knowledge of the truth so I can experience my freedom in Christ and be transformed by the renewing of my mind. In Jesus precious name I pray. Amen. Discussion Questions 1. What kind of life did Jesus model for us? 2. Where do most people get their identity from? 3. How do most people perceive themselves? Why? 4. How important is it that we see ourselves the way God sees us? 5. What three things did Jesus come to do? 6. If we see only the cross and not the resurrection, how will that affect the way we live? 7. Why is knowing who we are in Christ so important? 8. Who is the ruler of this world? (See John 14:30; 16:10-11.) 9. What does Jesus hope to gain by undoing the works of the devil, and how should that impact us? 10. Summarize the gospel using Colossians 2:13-15.